Texas Longhorns take care of Islanders at Whataburger Field

Texas infielder Kody Clemens hit a grand slam and gave a curtain call as Longhorns fans at Whataburger Field responded with an ovation.
Quinton Martinez

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Texas' Kody Clemens hits a grand slam during the sixth inning of their game against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi's at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)Buy Photo

Texas plated three runs in the first inning and the Longhorns turned three double plays as the the visitors were never challenged at Whataburger Field in a 9-3 win.

The Longhorns jumped on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a solo home run from the second batter of the game, Masen Hibbeler, in front of 4,115 fans at Whataburger Field and never let the Islanders grab any momentum.

Kody Clemens hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to deliver the biggest blow of the game, his eighth shot of the year, which stayed fair and cleared the fence in right field.

A&M-Corpus Christi put together a rally in the ninth inning, scoring three runs on RBIs from Drake Osborn, Itchy Burts and Enrique Sanchez

The loss was the fifth consecutive for the Islanders, who fell to 16-14 on the year ahead of this week's road series at Southeastern Louisiana.

The Longhorns improved to 18-12 as Texas won its sixth game over its last eight outings, rebounding from a series loss at Kansas State last weekend.

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Texas' Nico O'Donnell throws a pitch during the fourth inning of their game against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi's at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

WHAT HAPPENED

The Islanders turned to freshman Leonel Perez (4-1), who came into the game with a 1.25 ERA in hopes of a better start than the team got last week against Texas A&M.

After Perez picked Tate Shaw off first base, Hibbeler took the Islanders' right-handed starter deep, igniting a three-run first inning.

The Longhorns added single runs in the third and fourth inning off Miller graduate A.G. Ayala, who relieved Perez in the third.

Clemens connected for his eighth home run of the season after an error and a walk loaded the bases for the Longhorns in the seventh.

The Longhorns defense, led by short stop David Hamilton, turned three double plays.

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Texas' Kody Clemens celebrates at home plate with his teammates after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of their game against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi's at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

KEY MOMENTS

Hibbeler's first inning home run set a tone for the Longhorns and never let the Islanders entertain any thoughts of an upset of their Big 12 foes.

Hamilton and Jake McKenzie added RBI singles in the inning to give Texas a 3-0 lead before the Islanders took their first cuts.

Scott Balfantz struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom half as Blair Henley escaped his only challenge of his three innings.

The Islanders loaded the bases in the ninth and pushed across three runs before Nick Anderson struck out to end the rally.

CLOSE

Texas Longhorns catcher Michael McCann hit his first career home run in a 9-3 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday at Whataburger Field.
Quinton Martinez

GAME NOTES

Texas catcher Michael McCann hit his first home run of the season to lead off the third inning.

The Longhorns hit three home runs in the game increasing their season tally to 22.

Texas improved to 20-5 all-time against the Islanders, including 5-1 in Corpus Christi.

Blair Henley improved to 4-3 on the season with the win while the Islanders' Leonel Perez fell to 4-2

UP NEXT

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (16-14, 2-7) travels for a three-game series on the road at Southeastern Louisiana starting Friday. Texas (19-12, 7-3) returns to Big 12 conference play Friday to open a three-game set at UFCU-Disch Falk Field against Baylor.

Texas' Masen Hibbeler celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of their game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

Texas' Jake McKenzie catches a ball for an out at first during the fourth inning of their game against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi's at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

Texas A&M- Corpus Christi's Harrison Dinicola catches a ball at first for an out during the fifth inning of their game against Texas at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

Texas' Kody Clemens celebrates at home plate with his teammates after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of their game against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi's at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times